One embodiment of a transfer node is described, including a first channel port adapted for coupling to a host computer, a second channel port adapted for coupling to a storage controller and one or more storage devices, a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to the first and second channel ports, and a memory coupled to the CPU. The transfer node receives data routing information associated with a data transfer command from the storage controller via the second channel port, wherein the data transfer command directs a transfer of data between the host computer and the one or more storage devices. The transfer node stores the data routing information within the memory, and routes data associated with the data transfer command between the first and second channel ports using the data routing information stored within the memory. As a result, the data associated with the data transfer command is routed between the host computer and the one or more storage devices such that the data does not pass through the storage controller, allowing independent scalability of a number of input/output operations per second (IOPS) and a data transfer rate of a storage system including the transfer node. Several embodiments of a computer system are described, wherein each embodiment of the computer system has a storage system including the transfer node coupled in series with a switch between the host computer and the one or more storage devices.